Drying apparatus



Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRYNG APPARATUS ClydeL. Hunsicker, San Francisco, Calif. `Application 0ctober30, 1939, SerialNo. 301,989'

s claims. icl. iss-4) This invention is concerned generally withapparatus for drying operation with air currents or the like, and moreparticularly it relates to apparatus for drying the human hair.

It is a general object of the invention to provide drying apparatusincluding moisture absorbing means which is automatically recycledduring operation of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide drying apparatus includingautomatic recycling condition of the moisture absorbing means itself.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment of the invention which has been described indetail in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: y f

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section showing hairdrying apparatus incorporating the instant invention.

"Fig 2 is an elevational view partly in section taken at right angles tothe view shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in a plane indicated by thelines 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partially in elevation of a partf a circuit control means.

The instant invention is illustrated as embodied in hair dryingapparatus wherein the hair of the subject is dried by air delivered froma the apparatus. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the intake ofthe blower I isconnected to a conduit 2| suitably secured at the upper end of adepending casing 22 which is open at its lower end. As seen in Fig. 1,the lower portion of f conduit 2| is divided into two compartments 23means wherein the recycling is controlled by the andv 24by centralpartition 426. Compartments 23 and 24 have respective horizontallyelongated intake ports 21 and 28 in the outer side walls thereof.Conduit 2| is closed except for the ports 21 and 28 and its opening intothe blower.

A pair of moisture absorbing units 3| and 32 are provided within thecasing 22 at either side of a central vertical partition 33 mountedbetween the side walls of casing 22 and also suitably connected to thebottom wall of the conduit 2|.

The moisture absorbing units 3| and 32 may be formed substantially inaccordance with the disclosure of my co-pending application, Serial No.231,884, filed September 27, 1938. Briefly the units consist ofelongated conduits 36a, 36h alongside of which there are suitablyenclosed electrical heating elements 31a, 31h. Suitable heat insulatingmaterial such as asbestos packing 33 may be provided adjacent heatingelements 31a, 31h, opposite to the conduits 36a and 36h. The interior ofeach conduit 36 is filled blower or fan and the drying is accelerated byabsorbing the moisture from the air to increaseI its drying capacity. Itwill be understood, oi' course, that the invention can be employed inother types of drying or conditioning equipment where continuousoperation with automatic recycling of the units is desired.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a conventional formof blower I0 connected to an air distributor which may be helmet shapedto generally surround the head of the subject and direct the air uponthe head. The blower is driven by motor I2. Thel air is heated Y- bysuitable means such as an electrical heating element I3 carried withinthe conduit |4 which connects the blower I0 with the distributorfll. Asseen in Fig. 2 the blower I0 is supported upon a telescopic standard IBhaving a clamping screw I1 associated therewith. In turn, the

blower I0 may support the remainder of the apparatus as shown.

'I'he air for intake by the blower I0 is dried by moisture absorbingunits which are automatically alternated in operation to providecontinuous operation with increased drying capacity of with a porousmedium 40 capable of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Asdisclosed in said co-pending application, the porous medium may consistof fragments of asbestos saturated with calcium chloride, andinterspersed in glass wool or a like medium. I may also use the type ofunit disclosed in my later led application, Serial No. 287,546, iiledJuly 31, 1939.

Each of the moisture absorbing units 3| and 32 is mounted forsubstantially vertical movement between respective moisture absorbingand recycling positions. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 unit 3| isprovided with a pair of vertically spaced bosses 4| carrying respectivepivot pins 42 which engage in the adjacent apertured ends of a pair oflevers 44 pivoted on respective vertically spaced shafts 46 extendingthrough the partition 33 and having their ends mounted in the walls ofcasing 22. Unit 32 is similarly connected to the opposite ends of thelevers 44. Two sets of levers 44 are y provided at eitherside of thepartition 33 forming with the respective units 3| and 32 a parallel Asshown in Fig. 1, unit 3| is in its uppermost or operating position wherethe discharge passage 5I from conduit 38 is in communication withintakeport 2'| for compartment 23 of the blower intake conduit, so that air isdrawn from the outside thrdugh the packing 40 in the conduit 38a andthen through the outlet passage 5| to the intake of the blower andthence to air distributor Unit 32 is in its lowermost or recyclingposition in Fig. 1 and the associated intake port 28 is closed by valveextension 52 of the unit. Also discharge passage 5| of unit 32 opensinto the interior of casing 22 and the air and vapor therefrom can bevented out through the vent open- "ings 54 in the side walls of thecasing.

Yieldable latch or detent means are provided for holding the .units inthe selected adjusted positions thereof As best seen in Fig. 4, one oflevers M carries a pair of spring detent members 56a, 56h forcooperation with complemental detent members 51a, 51h mounted onpartition 33. These detent members may also form a part of fthe circuitconnections.

vCircuit means are provided whereby when a moisture absorbing unit is inits lowermost position the heating unit associated therewith isenergized to regenerate the unit b y driving the moisture from themoisture absorbing medium. As seen in Fig. 1 one side of the line 6|' lsconnected to respective terminals 62 and 63 of the respective heatingelements 31a and 31h. The other terminals 64 and 65 of the heatingelements are connected by respective leads 66 and 61 to respectivedetent members 56h and 56a which are electrically insulated from lever44.- As shown in Fig. 4 detent contact 56a and 56h are adapted forselective association with respective detent contacts 51a and 51h whichare connected by lead 12 to the opposite side of the line.

'Ihus when moisture unit 3| is in its operative raised position as shownin Fig. 1 where the air drawn thereto is delivered to the blower, de-

tent contacts 56a and 51a are engaged to close-` the circuit for heatingelement 31h for moisture absorbing unit 43|! so that this unit isregenerated while unit 3| is operative in drying the air being drawntherethrough by blower l0. Conversely, if unit 32 is raised to itsoperative drying position, unit 3| is in its lowermost regeneratingposition.

The movement of `units 3| and 32 between their operative dryinglpositions and their regenerating positions is controlled automaticallyby relative weights thereof. As constructed the units 3| and 32 arecounterbalanced so that the heaviest unit will fall by gravity to itslower regenerating position. Therefore, when one unit absorbs moistureto substantially its capacity, it becomes heavy enough to cause yieldingof the associated detent when the heavier will fall and lift the lighterunit to its drying position Where it is held by the associated detentmembers. In operation, assuming the apparatus to be conditioned as shownin Fig. 1, for example, wherein air is being drawn through the unit 3|whose heating element 31a is disabled and discharged from the blower. Inthis position, heating element 31h for unit 32 is enabled so that themoisture absorbing medium 40 in the conduit 3|b is heated. The moisturedriven out from unit 32 may be discharged through the lower end of theconduit or from its upper end into the casing 22 and thence outthroughvent openings 54.

When the operation has proceeded until the moisture becomes sumcientlygreater than the weight of the unit 32, the detent contacts a, lla willbe disengaged to release unit 3| and at the same time to break thecircuit for the heating unit 31h. As unit 3| falls, unit 32 will beraised to operative position where it is held by detent contacts 56h,51h which also make the circuit for heating element 31a so that moistureabsorbing unit 3| is regenerated while the moisture from the air beingused is absorbed by the unit 32. This alternate use of the two moistureabt sorbing units will be automatically repeated as the apparatus isused without any attention from the operator so that substantiallycontinuous drying operation is enabled. e

I claim:

1. In drying apparatus, at least two moisture absorbing units, each unitcomprising a conduit for passage of air and moisture absorbing materialwithin the conduit adapted to be dried by application of heat, heatingelements associated with each of said units, means mounting said unitsfor movement to their respective air conducting positions, said mountingmeans connecting said units` for simultaneous movement in oppositedirections, means for causing a iiow of air through the apparatus,selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of air throughsaid units, and control means for said heating elements controlledsimultaneously with said valve means to enable a heating element of oneunit when the valve means therefor is in closed position, said valvemeans and said he'ating element control means being controlled by saidunits upon movement thereof to and from the air conducting positionsthereof.

2. In drying apparatus having a. means for discharging air for dryingpurposes, a pair of moisture absorbing units for selective alternateassociation with said discharging means, each unit comprising a conduitfor passage of air and moisture absorbing material within the conduit,means for causing a flow of air through the apparatus to saiddischarging means, and means mounting said units in counterbalancedrelation, whereby the higher of said units is in operative relation withsaid discharging means and the lower of said units is out oi operativerelation with said discharge means, the relative positions of said unitsbeing controlled'by the relative weights of said units, said apparatusalso including regenerating means active with respect to each of saidunits when in its lowered position.

3. In drying apparatus, a vertically disposed casing having an outlet,means forcau'sng a flow of air from said outlet, a pair of moistureabsorbing umts mounted for alternate movement between air drying andregenerating positions, said units providing respective air conduitscontaining moisture absorbing material, valve means for connecting eachof said units in the air drying position thereof to said outlet,regenerating means for said umts, said units being in counterbalancedrelation to move between said air drying and regenerating positions inresponse to the relative weight of the respective units, and meansweight of the unit 3| which is absorbing the 75 for yieldably retainingsaid units in either adjusted position thereof, said retaining meansbeing responsive to increased weight of the unit in air drying positionto substantially saturated condition to cause said unit to movedownwardly to regenerating position and to lift the other unit from itsregenerating position to its air drying position.

4. In drying apparatus for air, a casing having a discharge compartmentwith an outlet and a pair of intake ports in opposite side wallsthereof, means for causing a ow of air from said outlet, lever meanspivoted in said casing, a pair of moisture absorbing units mounted atthe opposite ends of said lever means in counterbalanced relation, eachunit having a passage therethrough and moisture absorbing material insaid passage,V the inlet end of each unit being open and the dischargeend of each of said units having an opening for alignment with theassociated one of said ports and valve means for closing said associatedport, whereby said units may be selectively placed in air dryingposition, and means for regenerating each of said units when in inactiveposition with said valve means closing the associated port. l

5. In drying apparatus, a discharge chamber having a pair of openingsleading thereto, means for causing a flow of air from said discharge Ichamber, a pair of moisture absorbing units for .munication with anopening of said discharge chamber in one position of said unit and acover for closing said 'opening in the other of said positions, meansfor regenerating each of said units when out of communication with saiddischarge chamber, and means mounting said units in counter balancedvrelation whereby said units move in response to the relative respectiveweights thereof,` whereby the higher of said units has its dischargeopening in communication with the associated opening of said dischargechamber and whereby the cover of the lower of said units closes theassociated opening of said discharge chamber.

CLYDE L. HUNSICKER.

